Poppy Wickens, is a 12 year old pupil at Whitworth Park Academy Spennymoor. Like most young girls of her age she is looking forward to the school holidays. But there is something special about Poppy because from the age of 4 she began training and fell in love with the sport Taekwondo Olympic Style.

Taekwondo is a Korean form of martial arts characterized by punching and kicking techniques.

Poppy trains three or four times a week with Chi Spennymoor Taekwondo Academy, based at the local leisure centre and was one of the first to join its Peewee scheme for young members. Her brother Dylan is a black belt and both followed their mother Marissa into the sport who was seven-time British champion during the 1990s.

As a medal winner in the recent British Taekwondo Championships Poppy has been invited to join the Cadet Team GB Development Squad for 2022, training in Manchester every 4-6 weeks.

Local Freemason Brian Bulmer was so impressed with Poppy’s achievements and dedication to reach the top in her chosen sport, he approached members of his Lodge, Doric in Spennymoor which resulted in them making a financial donation to support Poppy.

Now that Poppy is striving to a national level with an ambition to represent Team GB in the Olympics the cost of training and attending competitions can soon mount up.  So again the local Freemasons from Doric Lodge came forward and advised Poppy and Coach Taekwondo Master Russell Shaw to apply to Durham Benevolence for a Youth Support Grant.

We are pleased to report that Freemason Christos Katsambis representing Durham Benevolence, accompanied by Doric Lodge brethren, John Hodgson, Peter Bambrough and Brian Bulmer attended the Chi Spennymoor Taekwondo Academy and presented Poppy with a certificate to go with a £1,000 Youth Grant she has been awarded.

Durham Freemasons will be keeping a keen eye on Poppy’s progress wishing here the very best for the future and hoping that one day she may be competing in the Olympics for Team GB..

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